Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world. It occurs when somebody uses your personal information for his or her personal gain. Laws have been passed to protect you, making ID theft both a Federal and a State crime.

How Do They Get Your Name

There are various ways that ID theft can occur. Methods range from low to high tech, but the outcome is always the same. It is always a good idea to take steps to help prevent ID theft. The following is a list of popular methods thieves use to obtain your personal information.

They dig through your trash, from home or work, looking for anything that might contain personal information. (Dumpster Diving)

They steal your wallet or purse (most commonly from the car) and gain access to your personal information and credit cards.

They steal your information from your employment file at work or buy it from somebody that has access to your personal information.

They fill out a ‘change of address’ form at the post office and divert your mail to a new address.

They pose as a landlord or lawyer to fraudulently obtain your credit report from the credit bureaus.

How To Deter ID Theft

There are various ways to help avoid the crime of identity theft.

1.Shred all personal information before throwing it away, including all junk mail and unwanted store receipts.

2. Review your credit reports once a year. The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it.(see RESOURCES)

3.Review your bank and credit card statements line by line every month.

4.Sign up for services that report any changes to your credit report (monthly fee).

5.Protect your mail from ID thieves. Never place out going mail in your mailbox; use the post office or a drop box. Remove your mail from your mailbox promptly; if you are going on vacation, place a ‘hold’ on your mail.

If you believe you have become a victim of ID theft, there are some critical steps you should take to help avoid further victimization. It is important to know that the process of fixing your name will take time, so make sure you keep detailed records of all your conversations and correspondence.

1.Call the fraud line for each of the credit reporting companies and ask them to place a ‘Fraud Alert’ on your report. Ask that a victim statement be added requiring creditors to call before opening new accounts. Ask for a copy of your credit report; the report is free for victims of fraud. Once you receive the report, check to see if there are any other fraudulent accounts opened. Check the ‘inquiries’ listed at the bottom, these tell you who has been looking at your credit and might give you tips as to where else your name was used to obtain credit.

2.Contact all the creditors involved in any fraud. Ask to speak with the creditor’s security or fraud department and notify them of the situation. Close all compromised accounts and open new accounts with different account numbers and new passwords.

3.Call your local police department and file a report; keep copies of the police report for your records. Even if the police are unable to catch the thief, these reports may be helpful in resolving your problems with creditors. If your mail was stolen call the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) (call local post office for number).

4.File an identity theft report with the Federal Trade commission (FTC). The FTC has compiled a secure consumer fraud database and may pass the information on to other agencies or companies that your have reported about. They also have numerous resources available to help victims of identity theft.

5.Request another copy of your credit report in the future to make sure all the corrections have been made.